Political Power and Socio-Economic Development: Two Polemics

Abstract

However well-intentioned welfarist development programmes in the Third World may be, there is overwhelming evidence that the actual outcomes typically reflect not so much patterns of need as patterns of political power. Usually the distribution of power is extremely unequal and development outcomes are correspondingly inequitable. Two major questions arise. Is there something inevitable about this tendency, or is equitable development possible in spite of the unequal distribution of power? And is it plausible to suppose that a more egalitarian distribution of power will lead to more equitable development? The article reviews conservative, centrist and radical positions on these issues, together with some empirical evidence, and suggests that the onus now lies heavily on proponents of ‘order’ to justify their position against proponents of ‘participation’.